2/26 PBC on SHO: Chris Colbert vs Hector Garcia
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Roger Gutierrez (Covid) Out, Chris Colbert Seeks New Foe Atop February 26 Showtime Tripleheader
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BY JAKE DONOVAN
Published Thu Feb 10, 2022, 12:35 PM EST
Chris Colbert is left to adjust for a new opponent, though while keeping an old fight date.
BoxingScene.com has confirmed that Roger Gutierrez is no longer able to proceed with his scheduled WBA junior lightweight title defense versus Colbert due a Covid outbreak among his team. Venezuela’s Gutierrez was one of several members in camp to test positive for the infectious disease, thus forcing him out of the main event of a February 26 Showtime tripleheader from The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
ESPN Knockout's Julius Julianis was first to reveal—via Twitter—news of Gutierrez testing positive for Covid.
The good news for all other involved parties—including Colbert—is that the show will move forward, according to several parties intimately involved with the event. A new opponent will be secured for Brooklyn’s Colbert (16-0, 6KOs), though such details were not finalized as this goes to publish.
The show also includes 2016 U.S. Olympian and rising junior welterweight contender Gary Antuanne Russell (14-0, 14KOs) in a sought-after step up in class versus former WBC junior welterweight titlist Viktor Postol (31-3, 12KOs). Opening the televised tripleheader, IBF junior bantamweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas—the second longest-reigning active male titleholder—attempts his tenth title defense versus Argentina’s Fernando Daniel Martinez (13-0, 8KOs).
Gutierrez (26-3-1, 20KOs) will attempt his second overall title defense and first since being upgraded in title status. He won the WBA “World” title in a twelve-round decision over Nicaragua’s Rene Alvarado in their dramatic rematch, scoring three knockdowns including one in the twelfth and final round to pull off the upset win last January 2 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The feat avenged a stoppage loss from earlier in his career, while their rubber match this past August proved less entertaining than its predecessors.
The rubber match last August 14 saw Gutierrez win a repeat decision, this time in less entertaining fashion though effective enough to retain the title.
Colbert (16-0, 6KOs) last fought in July, earning a twelve-round decision win over Mongolia’s Tugstsogt Nyambayar at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Gutierrez-Colbert was the first title fight formally ordered by the WBA following its (forced) commitment to reduce its number of recognized titles, coming two days after Gutierrez’s repeat win over Alvarado. At the time of the August 16 order, the pairing served as a title consolidation fight as Gutierrez was the recognized WBA “World” junior lightweight titlist and Colbert as the sanctioning body’s “interim” titleholder.
Colbert was since downgraded to mandatory, though able to retain the same financial benefits previously afforded interim titlists in such negotiations. It became moot as Golden Boy (Gutierrez) and TGB Promotions (on behalf of Premier Boxing Champions for Colbert) were able to reach terms for the title fight.
Those plans will have to remain hold now, at least for Gutierrez as Colbert will move forward with his career.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
CHRIS COLBERT TAKES ON HECTOR GARCIA AFTER ROGER GUTIERREZ TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID19
CHRIS COLBERT
13
FEB
BY FRANCISCO SALAZAR
Chris Colbert has a new opponent on February 26.
The rising junior lightweight will now face Hector Luis Garcia in a clash of unbeaten contenders, a source confirmed to The Ring Saturday night. Boxing scribe Julius Julianis was the first to break the story.
The 12-round bout will take place at The Cosmpolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada and will headline a three-bout ‘Showtime Championship Boxing’ telecast (9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT).
Colbert was originally scheduled to face Roger Gutierrez of Venezuela, but Gutierrez withdrew from the fight earlier this week after testing positive for COVID-19. Garcia was likely a handful of fighters that had been contacted and approved in the event either fighter contacted the virus, as has been the case with previous Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) cards throughout the pandemic.
Gutierrez was scheduled to defend his WBA title against Colbert in a clash between fighters ranked in the top-10 by The Ring. Colbert and Gutierrez are ranked No. 5 and 6, respectively.
In his last bout on July 3, Colbert (16-0, 6 knockouts) defeated Tugstsogt Nyambayar by unanimous decision. In his previous fight in December 2020, Colbert broke down Panama’s Jaime Arboleda before stopping him in round 11.
The 25-year-old from Brooklyn, New York also has wins over Jezzrel Corrales and Miguel Beltran.
Garcia (14-0 2 NC, 10 KOs), who resides in San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic, defeated Isaac Avelar of Mexico by unanimous decision in his last bout on December 18. The victory over Avelar took place almost five months after Garcia stopped Miguel Moreno in round 4.
The 30-year-old also faced an unbeaten fighter in July 2019, defeating Anvar Yunusov by split-decision.
In the co-feature, unbeaten junior welterweight Gary Antuanne Russell (14-0, 14 KOs), a 2016 U.S. Olympian who resides from Capitol Heights, Maryland, will square off against former WBC world titleholder Viktor Postol (31-3, 12 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
Opening the Showtime telecast will be IBF junior bantamweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs) of the Philippines defending his IBF junior bantamweight title against Argentina’s Fernando Martinez (13-0, 8 KOs) in a 12-round bout.
NEWS
‘SUPERSTAR’ RUSSELL URGES FANS TO PREPARE FOR A GREAT SHOW AGAINST POSTOL
GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL WAS TOO MUCH FOR JOVANIE SANTIAGO. PHOTO BY ESTHER LIN / SHOWTIME
21
FEB
BY ANSON WAINWRIGHT
Supremely talented junior welterweight Gary Antuanne Russell will face former WBC junior welterweight titlist Viktor Postol at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas on Saturday.
It will be the first time Russell has fought since an impressive beatdown of Jovannie Santiago (RTD 6) last May. However, there are mitigating circumstances for his extended absence from the ring.
“I lost my brother, he passed away, at the beginning of 2021, my father just got one of his legs amputated,” Russell (14-0, 14 knockouts) told The Ring. “There’s been a stressful chain of events. Now that I’m getting something that’s productively keeping my mind occupied – it’s a help.
“I needed time away but I’ve got to keep in mind, I still need to keep active, things still need to get done. Me being a couch-potato or bawling my eyes out, things of that nature isn’t going to get things done.”
Things weren’t made any easier when his elder brother, Gary Jr., recently lost his WBC featherweight title. Unsurprisingly, Russell believes his brother’s performance warranted a victory.
“I hear people say the reason he lost is because he did everything with one hand, just because a person is a one-handed fighter doesn’t determine if a person loses or not,” he said. “If you’re outpointing the person, making a person miss, landing the cleaner shots, then yes, you deserve to win.
“My brother displayed skills, he hurt his shoulder but he did what he had to do to come out victorious. A person, who’s going up against the champion, you’ve really got beat the champion and I don’t think the guy did that at all.”
The 25-year-old southpaw is now focused on the task in hand and ready to take a huge step up in opposition, though is taking everything in his stride.
“Honestly, he’s another opponent that’s in the way of my vision,” he said. “I won’t take away his credentials and the things he’s done in his career but I really don’t put him on a pedestal. I give him respect because any fighter who prepares for no one but me for eight weeks could be dangerous.”
Russell, who was the subject of a New Faces feature in the October 2020 issue of The Ring, intends to make a statement to the junior welterweight division.
“That’s the plan, I just have to execute come fight time,” he said. “I will not give full disclosure about what my game plan is, what my tactics are. Viktor Postol is a good fighter, he’s no slouch, I will have to make adjustments just for him.
“My goal is to accomplish a victory; it would line me up for a title match.”
The confidence oozes out of Russell, who feels he has everything to go on and become a big name in boxing.
“Be prepared for a great show,” he said. “I tell people all the time I’m a superstar, when I come there and I put on a performance you will see I have superstar written over me.
“I want the world to keep their eyes on me, this business and profession that I’m in deals with entertainment and I’m very entertaining when it comes to me showcasing my talent. I’m very entertaining when it comes to me talking. I’m very entertaining when it comes to my apparel. I’m entertaining. That’s what sells and what people need. They definitely need the skills. I’ve got all the above, I’m just waiting for the opportunity where I can showcase it all as a treat to the world.”
Postol learned his craft in Europe before breaking through with a stoppage of Selcuk Aydin (KO 11) in the U.S. on May 2014. The tall Ukrainian was highly impressive in systematically dismantling Lucas Matthysse (KO 10) to win the WBC title, but he lost a unification matchup against pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford (UD 12).
He dropped a decision to Josh Taylor (UD 12) but repositioned himself with two wins to earn a shot at then WBC/WBO ruler Jose Ramirez. Despite giving the American all he could handle, he lost a 12-round majority decision. The 38-year-old sports a record of 31-3, 12 KOs.
The Showtime event will be headlined by Chris Colbert who faces late substitute Hector Luis Garcia in a WBA junior lightweight title eliminator. Also on the card, long-reigning IBF junior bantamweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas will look to defend his belt against Fernando Martinez. The broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on Twitter @AnsonWainwright
'Superstar' Russell urges fans to prepare for a great show against Postol - The Ring (ringtv.com)
‘SUPERSTAR’ RUSSELL URGES FANS TO PREPARE FOR A GREAT SHOW AGAINST POSTOL
GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL WAS TOO MUCH FOR JOVANIE SANTIAGO. PHOTO BY ESTHER LIN / SHOWTIME
21
FEB
BY ANSON WAINWRIGHT
Supremely talented junior welterweight Gary Antuanne Russell will face former WBC junior welterweight titlist Viktor Postol at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas on Saturday.
It will be the first time Russell has fought since an impressive beatdown of Jovannie Santiago (RTD 6) last May. However, there are mitigating circumstances for his extended absence from the ring.
“I lost my brother, he passed away, at the beginning of 2021, my father just got one of his legs amputated,” Russell (14-0, 14 knockouts) told The Ring. “There’s been a stressful chain of events. Now that I’m getting something that’s productively keeping my mind occupied – it’s a help.
“I needed time away but I’ve got to keep in mind, I still need to keep active, things still need to get done. Me being a couch-potato or bawling my eyes out, things of that nature isn’t going to get things done.”
Things weren’t made any easier when his elder brother, Gary Jr., recently lost his WBC featherweight title. Unsurprisingly, Russell believes his brother’s performance warranted a victory.
“I hear people say the reason he lost is because he did everything with one hand, just because a person is a one-handed fighter doesn’t determine if a person loses or not,” he said. “If you’re outpointing the person, making a person miss, landing the cleaner shots, then yes, you deserve to win.
“My brother displayed skills, he hurt his shoulder but he did what he had to do to come out victorious. A person, who’s going up against the champion, you’ve really got beat the champion and I don’t think the guy did that at all.”
The 25-year-old southpaw is now focused on the task in hand and ready to take a huge step up in opposition, though is taking everything in his stride.
“Honestly, he’s another opponent that’s in the way of my vision,” he said. “I won’t take away his credentials and the things he’s done in his career but I really don’t put him on a pedestal. I give him respect because any fighter who prepares for no one but me for eight weeks could be dangerous.”
Russell, who was the subject of a New Faces feature in the October 2020 issue of The Ring, intends to make a statement to the junior welterweight division.
“That’s the plan, I just have to execute come fight time,” he said. “I will not give full disclosure about what my game plan is, what my tactics are. Viktor Postol is a good fighter, he’s no slouch, I will have to make adjustments just for him.
“My goal is to accomplish a victory; it would line me up for a title match.”
The confidence oozes out of Russell, who feels he has everything to go on and become a big name in boxing.
“Be prepared for a great show,” he said. “I tell people all the time I’m a superstar, when I come there and I put on a performance you will see I have superstar written over me.
“I want the world to keep their eyes on me, this business and profession that I’m in deals with entertainment and I’m very entertaining when it comes to me showcasing my talent. I’m very entertaining when it comes to me talking. I’m very entertaining when it comes to my apparel. I’m entertaining. That’s what sells and what people need. They definitely need the skills. I’ve got all the above, I’m just waiting for the opportunity where I can showcase it all as a treat to the world.”
Postol learned his craft in Europe before breaking through with a stoppage of Selcuk Aydin (KO 11) in the U.S. on May 2014. The tall Ukrainian was highly impressive in systematically dismantling Lucas Matthysse (KO 10) to win the WBC title, but he lost a unification matchup against pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford (UD 12).
He dropped a decision to Josh Taylor (UD 12) but repositioned himself with two wins to earn a shot at then WBC/WBO ruler Jose Ramirez. Despite giving the American all he could handle, he lost a 12-round majority decision. The 38-year-old sports a record of 31-3, 12 KOs.
The Showtime event will be headlined by Chris Colbert who faces late substitute Hector Luis Garcia in a WBA junior lightweight title eliminator. Also on the card, long-reigning IBF junior bantamweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas will look to defend his belt against Fernando Martinez. The broadcast begins at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT.
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on Twitter @AnsonWainwright
'Superstar' Russell urges fans to prepare for a great show against Postol - The Ring (ringtv.com)
Def looking forward to 140 Gary Russ showing out against Postol
Conscious Pilot
Do Better.
Excited to see the return of One Gary Antuanne Russell.
Chris Colbert-Hector Garcia, Showtime Undercard Weigh-In Results From Las Vegas
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BY KEITH IDEC
Published Fri Feb 25, 2022, 04:51 PM EST
Hector Garcia had no difficulty making weight Friday for a fight he took on relatively short notice.
The Dominican southpaw stepped on the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s scale at 129½ pounds for his 12-round, 130-pound fight against former WBA interim super featherweight champ Chris Colbert on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Brooklyn’s Colbert was a little lighter, 128¾ pounds, when it was his turn to weigh in at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
The 25-year-old Colbert (16-0, 6 KOs) is listed by Caesars sportsbook as a 22-1 favorite to beat Garcia in this “Showtime Championship Boxing” main event. The 30-year-old Garcia (14-0, 10 KOs, 3 NC) took this fight on less than three weeks’ notice, once WBA world super featherweight champion Roger Gutierrez (26-3-1, 20 KOs) contracted COVID-19 while training.
The Colbert-Garcia winner is expected to challenge Gutierrez in his following fight.
Just before Colbert and Garcia got on the NSAC’s scale, former WBC super lightweight champion Viktor Postol and unbeaten Gary Antuanne Russell met their contractual obligations for the 10-round co-feature of Showtime’s three-bout broadcast.
The 38-year-old Postol, a native of Kyiv, Ukraine, came in at 140½ pounds. The 25-year-old Russell, a 2016 U.S. Olympian from Capitol Heights, Maryland, officially weighed 139½ pounds.
The contracted weight limit for the Postol-Russell fight was 141 pounds.
Postol (31-3, 12 KOs) stepped on the scale with a lot on his mind. His wife and 5-year-old twin boys are home in war-torn Ukraine, where Postol hopes to return the day after he faces Russell (14-0, 14 KOs), a younger brother of former WBC featherweight champ Gary Russell Jr.
Earlier Friday afternoon, Jerwin Ancajas and Fernando Martinez made weight for their 12-round fight for Ancajas’ IBF junior bantamweight championship.
The Philippines’ Ancajas and Argentina’s Martinez both weighed in at 114½ pounds. Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs) will make the 10th defense of his IBF 115-pound championship versus Martinez (13-0, 8 KOs), the 11th-ranked challenger for his title, in the opener of a telecast scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. PT.
KingOFKings
All Star
Slept on card
why?I have doubts about Colbert with this change